This Is Snowboarder Brenna Huckaby, the First Paralympian to Make the SI Swimsuit Issue

This Is Snowboarder Brenna Huckaby, the First Paralympian to Make the SI Swimsuit Issue

Brenna Huckaby is a pretty inspiring woman. A gymnast at the start of her athletic career, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma cancer and had her leg amputated. That’s when she was introduced to snowboarding, and her life exploded in ways she’d never imagined. Huckaby–who’s also a mother to 17-month-old Lilah–won two gold medals at this year’s Paralympic Games in South Korea, winning both snowboard cross and the banked slalom.

She is also the first Paralympian to be featured in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue, an empowering experience for the 21-year-old. “I see it as an opportunity to inspire others,” she said. “It’s very rare if ever, you see a woman with a disability pose in sexy swimsuits. I want to help change the stigma of disabilities. I want other women, regardless of their body, to know they are powerful and sexy.”

Don’t let the fancy photo shoot fool you. Huckaby is a gnarly athlete. Check out this intense whipper she took in training, below, and follow her on Instagram, here.

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